I had last Friday off and went to the Gap to check out a jacket I’d seen online. There seems to be some cosmic rule that the three times per year that I enter an actual Gap store, they’re having a mega-sale. I tried on this blush top and olive jacket together, and was helpless. Even though I know that blush color makes me look deathly on its own. I’ll have to deploy carefully.READ MORE

This week I got a reader e-mail from a woman requesting hat/clothing advice for her best friend who is about to undergo treatment for breast cancer, and I remembered Chikara. I wrote about this company ages ago, and I’ll be damned if they haven’t churned out EVEN MORE gorgeous clothing in the meantime. And they’ve expanded into lingerie and swimwear, too! Check out Chikara for truly stellar clothing designed for post-mastectomy bodies.READ MORE

My girl Erin writes a blog called The Fierce Beagle.I have to be careful about sneaking peeks at her posts at work, because they inevitably make me snort with laughter, causing my boss to peek her head out of her office to ask if I’m OK. In addition to being wickedly funny, she is compassionate, insightful, kind, and incredibly gorgeous. But hands off, ladies, she’s also happily married.

When Erin told me she had some words of wisdom for all those about to shop, I jumped at the chance to share those wise words with all of you! Here she goes:READ MORE